FLIGHT CLUB | Show & Tell + Workshop | OCT 22
NEXT MEETUP Thursday, October 22
6.00p to 8.00p
What’s your story?
Every drone on the bench has a story: the first flip that actually worked, the crash that taught you more than any manual, the part you printed at midnight to get back in the air. Flight Club is where those stories get told.
Join us on Thursday, October 22 from 6:00p to 8:00p.
This time, SHOW & TELL is the main event. Bring whatever you’ve been flying, building, fixing, or wondering about: a build in progress, a crash survivor, your everyday flyer, a new part you’re excited about, or a question you’ve been chewing on. No presentation required. Just set it on the table and tell us about it. Then stick around for open workshop time, with tools and experienced builders on hand to help. New to drones? Come watch, ask anything, and find your next step.
At our last Saturday meetup, Gordon and El cracked open the black box. Working from the outside in, they took us through every major component of a multi-rotor: motors and props, speed controllers, the flight controller that serves as the drone’s brain, the radio link, the video system, and finally the batteries. Along the way we learned how a drone turns by speeding up one pair of motors and slowing the other, why racers and cinematographers choose such different video systems, and how open-source radio gear now reaches distances that used to be military-only.
Aha moment of the day: those mysterious numbers on battery cells like “21700” are just the size, 21mm across and 70mm long.
We wrapped up with the part that matters most, battery safety: store packs at the right charge over winter, never charge unattended, and keep them in fireproof bags. Gordon and El also showed off a battery pack they’re building from individual cells with help from Johan’s spot-welding setup, a great example of what happens when Helios members pool their skills.
Thanks to Gordon and El for sharing what they know, and to everyone who came with great questions.
Who Can Join?
Everyone’s welcome — whether you’re a seasoned pilot or brand new to drones, come share, learn, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Do you know someone who is dronecurious? Invite them! We’ll do our best to start right at 6:00p.
HOST // David Voetmann
David, a lifelong designer and maker, spent his childhood in Africa. This formative experience instilled a conviction that it’s better to create your own solutions than to wait around hoping someone else will solve your problems. To this end, he earned a BFA in Industrial Design at the University of Washington. This study deepened an enduring conviction that solving problems and making things is deeply coded into our humanity. Over the last few years he has explored the transformation of our economy as new technologies democratize opportunity. He now runs The Facility Makerspace where ordinary people with extraordinary ideas gain access to an 11,000sf sandbox for innovation with all the tools, training, and community you need to turn thoughts into things.
This 2-hour meetup takes place adjacent to a working shop. If you would like to explore our workshop full of tools please be prepared for the following safety precautions.
SAFETY
– Closed-toed shoes
– No loose-fitting clothing
– Tie back long hair
– Eye protection (available on site)
NOTE
This meetup is open to anyone over 16 years old. Kids under 18 years old will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please feel free to pass this invitation on to others.
